Delhi gang-rape defence lawyer’s remarks make a mockery of the judiciary and contempt court

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The nation’s desperate wait finally ended when on 13th September’2013, a Delhi fast track court gave its final verdict on the much infamous Delhi gangrape case that took place on December 16th 2012, which was eventually followed by haling protest all across the country. And all the protests and peoples’ outrages were answered with the court granting death penalty to all the four accused amongst the total six, where one being a juvenile was granted seven years imprisonment by the Juvenile Justice Board, whereas the prime accused Ram Singh had already committed suicide.

Now, shifting focus towards today’s decision, what happened inside the court certainly gives enough reason to celebrate, but the outside scenario is extremely the opposite. After comments by the defense lawyer Mr. A.P. Singh, it compels us to think what have we learnt from the abhorrent incident and how far we have come after one of the most heinous crimes that took place on that fateful night of December 16. The lawyer’s insensible comments would certainly intrigue one to think how much insensate, spurious and stereotyped this man could be.

In Mr. Singh’s words, while briefing the media after the delivery of the verdict, he made certain disgusting statement hurting the dignity of the departed victim further assassinating her character, stating,

“Why don’t people first control their own daughters? I’d burn my daughter alive if she was having pre-marital sex and roaming around with her boy friend at night.”

He didn’t simply restrict himself till this and went even further criticizing the decision of the court where some of his comments gave clear snippets of breaching THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971.

In Sec 2(C) of the act it’s clearly stated that, the publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which-
(i) Scandalizes or tends to scandalize, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or
(ii) Prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or
(iii) Interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner, is a criminal contempt of the court.

Coming back to the defense lawyer, Mr. A.P. Singh, in his statement to the media there’s a clear instinct of the violation of this act as he said, “It is regrettable that in the judgment in the case of the December 16 gang rape has been completely dictated by the government. The judge without giving its due thought and under political pressure, without considering the evidence or witness has handed all four convicts the death sentence”. He further stated that the verdict made by the court was under utmost political pressure by the Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde”. He not only criticized the court’s decision but further asserted it to be influenced by alien forces, further the defense lawyer Mr. Mr. A.P. Singh, detrimented the stature of the judge calling his decision to be one without any due thought and thrust by the political class. This is absolute bizarre, making a jest of the most respected judiciary system of the country.

Indian constitution terms the judiciary to be an independent body, providing it with absolute power, which makes it the most respectable and supreme body of the country. However, statements like that of Mr. A.P. Singh, has certainly made a mockery of it.

Though the defense lawyer’s statement resulted in huge public and media criticism and protest in bits and pieces, however it would be interesting to find out, does Mr. A.P. Singh face the law for scandalizing and disrespecting the supreme body of the country.

Shamim Parveez Zakaria is a journalist, writer, social activist and anti-corruption crusader. He is working as an active team member for 'STOP ACID ATTACKS', an organization working in the interest of the acid attack survivors.